# Introduction
-The A&AI Model Loader Service is an application that facilitates
-distribution and ingestion of new service and resource models from SDC to A&AI.
+The A&AI Model Loader Service is an application that facilitates the distribution and ingestion of
+new service and resource models and VNF catalogs from the SDC to the A&AI.
## Features
* downloads artifacts from SDC upon receipt of a distribution event
* pushes distribution components to A&AI
+### VNF Catalog loading
+
+The Model Loader supports two methods for supplying VNF Catalog data for loading into A&AI:
+
+* Embedded TOSCA image and vendor data<br/>VNF Catalog data can be embedded within the TOSCA yaml files contained in the CSAR.
+
+
+* VNF Catalog XML files<br/>VNF Catalog data in the form of XML files can be supplied in the CSAR under the path `Artifacts/Deployment/VNF_CATALOG`
+
+**Note: Each CSAR should provide VNF Catalog information using only one of the above methods. If a CSAR contains both TOSCA and XML VNF Catalog information, a deploy failure will be logged and published to SDC, and no VNF Catalog data will be loaded into A&AI**
+
## Compiling Model Loader
Model Loader can be compiled by running `mvn clean install`
## Running Model Loader
-### Deploying The MicroService
-
Push the Docker image to your Docker repository. Pull this down to the host machine.
**Create the following directories on the host machine:**
The following file must be present in this directory on the host machine:
_model-loader.properties_
+
# Always false. TLS Auth currently not supported
ml.distribution.ACTIVE_SERVER_TLS_AUTH=false
ml.distribution.USER=<username>
# Artifact type we want to download from the SDC (the values below will typically suffice)
- ml.distribution.ARTIFACT_TYPES=MMODEL_QUERY_SPEC,TOSCA_CSAR
+ ml.distribution.ARTIFACT_TYPES=MODEL_QUERY_SPEC,TOSCA_CSAR
# List of message bus addresses on which to listen for distribution events
ml.distribution.MSG_BUS_ADDRESSES=<host1>,<host2>
**Start the service:**
-You can now start the Docker container for the _Search Data Service_, in the following manner:
+You can now start the Docker container for the _Model Loader Service_, e.g:
docker run -d \
-e CONFIG_HOME=/opt/app/model-loader/config/ \
--name model-loader \
{{your docker repo}}/model-loader
-Where,
+where
- {{your docker repo}} = The Docker repository you have published your image to.
+ {{your docker repo}}
+is the Docker repository you have published your image to.